The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-16
A SENSATIONAL RUMOR.
Unconfirmed Report that an American YES
sci Has Been Sunk by Canadian Cruiser.

NEW YORK, Aug. 15.-An Ottawa special to
the Herald says: "a gentleman who arrived
here Saturday evening from Buctouche, small
village the Gulf of St Lawrence shore OF
New Brunswick, tells startling and sensational
story calculated to make the blood boil in every
American citizens heart He says that fish
ing schooner belonging to the United States has
been sunk Dy shot from one of the Canadian
cruisers, and that all on board were lost.
The statement appears incredible, but the relia-
bility of the person who communicates it can be
depended upon. This gentleman has been spend
ing some time in Buctouche. and is well ac-
ouainted with the inhabitants. but has no inter-
est whatever in fishing matters, and can have no
possible reason for repeating story which be
knows to be false. He states that one night
about eight days ago, while sleeping in
house ID the village, himself and his wife were
awakened by two loud reports. They heard
nothing further and concluding that the noise
merely peals of thunder, went to sleep
again. In the morning they told that they
had heard the reports of two cannon shots, fred
from cruiser in pursuit of American fishing
schooner. The second shot struck one of the
schooners masts, which fell with the
sails and turned the schooner complete
II over on her side. when she filled
and sank Immediately. Every board
went down, there not being given /. minutes
time to launch a boat. He states that the shoot
ing was witnessed by couple of Buctouche
fishermen, who were off shore in row boat and
who carried the news home. After seeing the
terrible result of her shots the cruiser put to
and was lost in the night. There
was storm during the night, that the
noise heard on shore could not have been caused
by thunder. The reports were heard by nearly
every body in the village who. in spite of their
being short and sharp at the moment attributed
them 10 thunder. The gentleman relating this
terrible affair says that every effort is being
made to keep it quiet. There is no
doubt. however about the reports being
heard. and that there storm. The OBJ
ject of the authorities IN suppressing news OF
such kind for as long time possible
readily be understood, but, if true. the facts
must come out, as it would be really impossible
to keep every man board the cruiser from
telling something of the story as soon as he
reached port. If it transpres that an American
vessel and her crew have been sunk In this
manner very grave complications will ensue.
The number of lives lost would probably be
from twelve to fifteen, probably two or three
That the report did not come from Buc-
touche sooner is explained by the fact thatit Is
an isolated place.
TORONTO. Aug. 15.-The manager of the tele-
graph Office at Buctouche sends the following
answer to inquiries about the report that
Canadian cruiser had sunk United States fish
ing schooner at that port 81 have heard about
the story published in the United States, but do
not believe there is any truth in it. The people
here did hear some firing, but they do not know
what it was. They also heard that lot of
prisoners were taken to Richibucto. but that is
true. l believe the whole thing to be o
canard."
OTTAWA. Ont, Aug. 15.-The Department of
Fisheries have no information to the alleged
sinking of an American fishing schooner, with
the loss of her entire crew, off Buctouche. New
Brunswick. aud expressed entire disbelief in the
genuineness OF the report to that effect as pub
lished in the United States.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-The Department. of
State has no confirmation of the story concern
ing the sinking of an American fishing vessel
by Canadian cruiser, and the report is discred-
tied.